Make sure you’re trying to burn a playlist (a list of songs). You can’t burn a disc directly from your library, the Radio, a shared playlist, or your iPod. For instructions, see Create a playlist.

If you choose File > Burn Playlist to Disc but nothing happens or the wrong songs are burned, make sure the songs you want have a checkmark beside them.

Make sure to select the correct disc format. To create a CD with any type of audio file that iTunes supports (MP3, AAC, AIFF, and so on), try selecting Data CD or DVD. If the playlist you’re trying to burn includes AAC files, make sure MP3 CD is not selected.

If your playlist includes iTunes Store purchases with DRM protection, you may have exceeded the number of times (seven) you can burn this playlist.

If CD burning stops at a particular song, the playlist might include iTunes Store purchases that haven’t been authorized to play on this computer. To authorize this computer, double-click the purchased song (where CD burning stopped) and enter the information for the account that purchased the song. You can authorize up to five computers at a time. For more information, see Authorize a computer to play iTunes Store purchases.

If your computer or display goes to sleep while you’re burning a CD, try setting the computer and display to wait longer before going to sleep. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, and click Energy Saver.

If a burned CD stutters when you play it in an external CD-RW drive, try playing it in an internal drive or a stereo system.

If your CD burn is unsuccessful and your external drive becomes unresponsive, turn the drive off and on to reset it.

Movies purchased from the iTunes Store can’t be burned to a DVD or VCD that plays in a DVD player, or to a Video CD.

To create an audio CD, make sure you have an Apple Combo drive or SuperDrive. Some third-party CD-RW drives also work. After you choose File > Burn Playlist to Disc, if your drive is shown next to Disc Burner, it’s compatible.